Two-ply separator for bottle carriers



July 13, 1965 A. J. Mass 3,194,478

TWO-FLY SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed Aug. 1, 1961 ARTHUR J WEJSS 414%, f m m B ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,194,478 TWO-PLY SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Arthur J. Weiss, Bergenfield, N.J., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 128,521 18 Claims. (Cl. 22Q42) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in separators for use Within containers for separating articles disposed therein, and more particu larly relates to a novel separator for use in conjunction with bottle carriers to separate and maintain bottles out of contact with one another.

There have been devised separators for use in bottle carriers which will effectively separate the bottles in the normal handling of the filled bottle carriers. However, these separators include a main body positioned between two rows of bottles and partition members struck from the body and extending between adjacent bottles in the rows at opposite sides of the body. When the partition members are struck from the body, there remain openings in the body through which bottles in the adjacent rows may possibly contact each other and thus subject the bottles to breakage. While such-separators have been acceptable for general delivery, due to the possibility of breakage, the separators have not been accepted by the railroads for shipment in railroad cars.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an extremely simple separator to be used in conjunction with bottle carriers of the wrap-around type wherein the separator has the usual body for disposal between the rows of bottles and the usual partition members extending to opposite sides of the body for positioning between adjacent bottles in the rows of bottles, and in addition, the body is of a two-ply construction with the partition members being struck from one only of the plies and the other of the plies closing the opening in the one ply from which the partition members are struck to prevent any possibility of engagement of bottles separated by the separator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple one-piece separator for use in conjunction with a wraparound type bottle carrier to assure against the contact of bottles disposed in rows within the bottle carrier, the separator being of a two-panel construction with the panels being hingedly connected together and one of the panels having struck therefrom partition members which remain hingedly connected to the one panel and project to opposite sides thereof and the other of the panels having narrow slits therein receiving the projecting partition members and serving to close the opening in the one panel from which the partition members are struck.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel one-piece separator for use in a bottle carrier of the wrap-around type for separating the bottles disposed therein, the bottle separator being formed from a single sheet of paper material which is provided with a central fold to define two panels with one of the panels projecting downwardly below the fold line and the other of the panels having struck therefrom partition members which project to opposite sides thereof, the one panel having slits therein receiving the partition members, and portions of the partition members being struck from the 3,194,478 Patented July 13, 1965 one panel to form lower supports having lower edges coplanar with the lower surfaces of the supports of the one panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel blank from which a bottle separator suitable for use in conjunction with a wrap-around type carrier for assuring the holding of bottles out of contact with one another when stored within the carrier, the separator blank having a generally rectangular configuration with an interrupted fold line separating the same and the two panels, one of the panels having an opening therein extending partially across the fold line into the other of the panels and from which there is struck two partition members hingedly connected to the one partition membet for swinging movement to transverse positions normal to the general plane of the one panel, and the other of the panels being provided with elongated openings for receiving the partition members in their positions folded out of the plane of the one panel.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier of the wrap-around type in which there is disposed the separator, which is the subject of this invention, no bottles being shown in the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the separator removed from the bottle carrier and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details of the relationship between the separator and bottles disposed within the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 and shows the relationship of the separator with respect to the carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank from which the separator of FIGURE 2 is formed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a bottle carrier, generally referred to by the numeral 6. The bottle carrier 6 is particularly designed for carrying six bottles B (FIGURE 3) although the bottle carrier could be modified to hold 4, 8 or more bottles. The bottles have been omitted from FIGURE 1 for purposeof clarity although they are illustrated in FIGURE 3. The bottle carrier 6 is formed of three basic components. These include a wrap-around carton 7 which extends about the upper and lower portions of the bottles B. The carton 7 is not a part of this invention as such, and therefore will not be fully described. The carton 7 is formed from a single elongated blank which is folded to define an upper portion 8 having two rows of openings 9 formed therein for the reception of necks of bottles B. The upper portion 8 is also provided with finger receiving ';openings iii to facilitate the carrying of the bottle carrier 6.

The carton 7 also includes a bottom portion 11 which is formed by overlapping flaps 12 and 13, the flaps 12 and 13 being secured together by means of a plurality of tabs 14, each of the tabs 14 overlying and being in alignment with a pair of bottles B. Thus the bottlesB serve to hold the tabs 14 in place. The bottle carrier 6 also 'includes a bottle separator, which is generally referred to by the numeral 15 and which is the primary subject of this invention. The bottle separator 15 is vertically disposed within the confines of the carton '7 and serves to prevent'contact of the bottles B with each other, thus preventing damage to the individual bottles even when handled in freight cars and the like.

Reference is now made to FIGURE of the drawing wherein there is illustrated a blank 16 from which the separator is formed. The blank 16 is generally rectangular in outline and is divided generally into two panels 17, 18 by. an interrupted fold line 19. It is to be noted that the fold line 19 is centrally located so that basically the panels 17 and 18 are of the same height. v

The panel 18 is provided with an enlarged cut-out 212 the extent of which is a major portion of the panel 18. The cut-out 20 extends into the panel 17, as at 21, and interrupts the fold line 19. The cut-out 24 also extends i are enlarged, as at 4'7.

into the panel 17, as at 22. In the forming of the cut-out Ztl, two partition members 23 and 24 are formed. These partition members are separated from eachother by a zig-zag out line 25 which extends transversely of the cut- .out 21) continuously thereacross. The Zig-zag out line 25 forms on the end of the partition member 23, a plurality' of projecting fingers 26. Complementary fingers 27 are formed onthe opposed end of the partition member 24.

It is to be noted that the panel 18 has a portion 2% coextensive with a part of the fold line 19 and projecting generally into the partition member 23. The partition member'23 is connected to the portion 23 along a transverse fold line 29. A similar portion 30 opens into the cut-out 20 in opposition to the portion 28 and is connected to the partition member 23 along a fold line 31 which is in alignment with the fold line 29. Thus, the partition member 23 remains connected to the panel 18, but is swingable out of the plane of the panel 13 to a position normal to the position of the panel 13 along the fold lines 20, 31., Another portion 32, which corresponds to the portion 23, is coextensive with the fold line 19 and projects into the partition member 24. The portion 32 is connected to the partition member 24 along'a fold line 33.

The panel 18 includes a further portion 34, which is similar to the portion 30 and which is disposed in opposed relation to the portion 32-. The portion 34 is connected to the partition member 24 along a fold line 35. In this manner the partition member 24 is mounted for swinging movement out of the plane of the panel 18 along the fold lines 33, 35 while remaining connected to the panel it is to be noted that the panel 17 is separated from the panel 15 not only by the fold line 19 and portions of the cut-out 20, but also by L-shaped cuts 36 disposed at opposite ends of the fold line 19 and opening out through the edges of the blank 16. The cuts 36 define projections 37 on the panel 17 which project beyond the fold line 19 and-into what. normally would be part of the panel 13.

It is to be noted that in the forming of the cutout 21 there are formed short cuts 38 disposed in alignment with the fold lines 29, 33 and, in conjunction with the cutout 2t), projections 39 are formed on the panel 17 adjacent the portions 23 and 32, the projections 3% having edges in alignment with the edges of the projections 37.

Inasmuch as the cutout 2% projects into the panel 17 at 21, there is formed on the partition member 23' a projection 40 and on the partition member 24 a projection 41. In addition, the projection of the cut-out 20 into the panel 17 at 22 results in the forming of another projection 42 on the partition member 23 and an elongated projection 43 on the partition member 24. l

The panel 17 is provided with a pair of elongated slits 45, 46 which are aligned with the fold lines for the partii i V 7 tion members 23 and 2.4, respectively. The slits 45 and 46 open out through the edge of the blank 16 remote from the fold line 19 and the inner ends of the slits 45, 46

The edge or" the panel 17 remote from the fold line 19 is contoured as at 43, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The edge of the panel 18 remote from the fold line 19 is contoured as at 49, identicallyto the contouring of the edge of the panel 17. j r

in the forming of the separator. 15 from the blank 16, the partition members 23 and 24 are folded along their respective toldlines by pushing up on the internested portions thereof, as appearing in FIGURE 5. This results in the outer portions of the partition members 23 swinging downwardly. When the partition members 23 are disposed substantially normal to the plane of the panel 1%, the panels 17 and 18 are tolded relative to each other along the fold line 19 withthe then downwardly projecting portions of the partition members 23 and 24 being received in theslits 45, 46, respectively, the enlargements at 47 in theinner ends of the slits 45, :6 aiding in the initial engagement of thepartition members within the slits 45, 46. I V 7 Relative folding of the panels 17, 18 is continued until these panels are disposed in face-to-face engagement, as is best shownin FIGURE 2.. At this time the separator 15 iscompleted and is ready to be applied between a plurality of bottles B prior to the wrapping of the carton 7 therearound.

It is to be noted that the contoured edges of the panels 17 and .18 are in alignment andthat the projections 37 and 39 and the panels 17 extend down below the fold line 1% and function as longitudinal supports for the separator 15. In addition, the projections 41) and 4,2 of the partition member 23 and the projections 41 and 43 or" the partition member 24, are now downwardly disposed and form transverse supports for the separator 15. It is to be also noted that the edges of all of the projections 37, 3?, 46, 41,42 and 43 are coplanar.

When the separator 15 is positioned bythe six bottles, as will occur in the forming of the bottle carrier 6, the panels 17 and 18 are disposed between the two rows of bottles Band the partition members 23 and 24 will be disposed between adjacent bottles in the two rows of bottles. The partition members 23 and 24 extend across a major portion of the width of the carton -7, as is shown in FIGURE 4, and prevent any contact between adjacent bottles in the rows of bottles. Further, whilev the. panel 18 is substantially opened due to the cut-out 20 formed therein and the swinging of the partition members 23 out of the plane of the panel 18, the panel 17, with the exception of the narrow slits 45 and 46, is continuous and therefore prevents any possible engagement between bottles of the two rows. Thus, it will be'readily apparent that the separator 15 prevents any interengagement of bottles disposed within the carton 7.- Thus, the bottle carrier 6 and the bottles B disposed therein will be roughly handled during shipmentwithout any possibility whatsoever of damage to the bottles due tothe bottles within one of the bottle carriers 6 coming into contact with one another; g i

It is to be noted that there is but a single cut-out 24] in the panel 18, butthe two partition members 23 and 24 are struck from this'one cut-out. Due to the zig-zag cut line 25 and theforming of the fingers 26 and 27, the partition members 23 and 24 have a'combined width greater than the width of the cut-out, 20 from which the partition members 23, 24 are displaced it is to be noted thatthe projections 37 and 39 are disposed at opposite ends and generally at the third points of the separator 15. In this manner the portion of the separator 15 which engages the bottom portion'll will be so spaced so as to provide clearance for the connecting tabs 14.

The blank 16 may be formed of a relatively inexpensive J paperboard product and may be readily assembled to form the separator 15.

At this time it is pointed out that the contouring of the edges of the panels 17 and 18 results in the formation of a recess 48 in the upper edge of the separator 15 disposed in alignment with the single receiving openings to permit a persons fingers to be properly engaged with the upperportion 8 of the carton 7 to handle and carry the bottle carrier 6. It isalso pointed out that the separator could'be varied in contour to accommodate other types of bottle carrier handling means including a handle connected to the carton 7, or a handle for-med integrally with the separator.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that variations may be made in the assembled separator disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator comprising a pair of panels disposed in face-to-face engagement and adapted to be disposed between two rows of bottles, and at least one partition member extending substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of one of said panels for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, the other of said panels having a narrow slit therein aligned with said partition member, said partition member projecting through the slit of said other panel in engagement with said other panels.

2. The separator of claim 1 wherein said panels are integrally connected.

3. A one-piece separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator comprising two integral panels disposed in face-to-face relation and adapted to be disposed between two rows of bottles, said panels being connected together along a lower hinge line, at least one partition member extending substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of one of said panels for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, the other of said panels having a narrow slit therein aligned with said partition member, said partition member projecting through the slit of said other panel in engagement with said other panel, said slit opening through the upper edge of said other panel to facilitate positioning of said partition member in said slit.

4. A one-piece separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator comprising two integral panels disposed in face-to-face relation and adapted to be disposed between two rows of bottles, said panels being connected together along a lower hinge line, at least one partition member extending substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of one of said panels for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, the other of said panels having a narrow slit therein aligned with said partition member, said partition member projecting through the slit of said other panel in engagement with said other panel, said slit opening through the upper edge of sand other panel to facilitate positioning of said partition member in said slit, portions of said other panel projectmg below said fold line and forming longitudinal supports, and said partition member having lower portions formed from said other panel and projecting below said fold line to form transverse supports.

5. A separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator comprising a pair of panels disposed in face-to-face engagement and adapted to be disposed between two rows of bottles, and partition members extending substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of one of said panels for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles,

the other of said panels having narrow slits therein aligned with said partition members, said partition members projecting through the slits of said other panel in engagement with said other panel, the combined lengths of said partition members being greater than the length of the space from which said partition members are struck, said partition members having complementary end portions.

6. The separator of claim 5 wherein said panels are integrally connected.

7. A one-piece separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator comprising two integral panels disposed in face-to-face relation and adapted to be disposed between two rows of bottles, said panels being connected together along a lower hinge line, partition members extending substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of one of said panels for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, the other of said panels having narrow slits therein aligned with said partition members, said partition members projecting through the slits of said other panel in engagement with said other panel, said slits opening through the upper edge of said other panel to facilitate positioning of said partition members in said slits, the combined lengths of said partition members being greater than the length of the space from which said partition members are struck, said partition members having complementary end portions.

8. The separator of claim 1 wherein said panels have matching upper edges.

9. A blank for forming a separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said blank being generally rectangular in outline and having a transverse fold line dividing the same into two panels, one of said panels having a central cut-out portion defining an opening and at least one partition member adapted to be swung out of the opening and the plane of said one panel substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of said one panel and be disposed normal to the plane of said one panel, and a narrow longitudinal slit in the other of said panels for confiningly receiving and engaging the partition member.

10. The blank of claim 9 wherein said panels have like contoured recessed remote edges.

11. The blank of claim 9 wherein said fold line is centrally located and said opening extends across the fold line.

12. The blank of claim 9 wherein said fold line is centrally located and said opening extends across the fold line and said panels having like remote edges speced equidistant from said fold line.

13. The blank of claim 9 wherein said fold line is centrally located and said opening extends across the fold line, said fold line being interrupted with portions of said other panel projecting into said one panel and being separated therefrom by cuts intersecting said fold line.

14. A blank for forming a separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said blank being generally rectangular in outline and having a transverse fold line dividing the same into two panels, one of said panals having a central cut-out portion defining partition members adapted to be swung out of the plane of said one panel substantially equidistant transversely from opposite sides of said one panel and be disposed normal to the plane of said one panel, and longitudinal narrow slits in the other of said panels for receiving and engaging 'the partition members, opposed edges of said partition members being separated by a generally zig-zag cut, whereby the combined lengths of said partition members is greater than the length of said cut-out.

15. The blank of claim 14 wherein the inner ends of the longitudinal slits are enlarged to facilitate the initial positioning of edges of the partition members therein. References Cited by the Examiner V 16. The separator of claim 1 wherein the innerv ends of said slit are enlarged to facilitate the positioning of the UNITED STATES P S partition member therein. 1?72:622 9/34 P Y 17. The separator of claim 7 wherein said slits have 5 2,346,788 4/ 44 Rlce 217+28 enlarged inner ends to facilitate the positioning of said 2,527,702 10/50 Bu partition members in said slits. 3,03 1,813 5/ .18. The separator of claim 1 wherein at least a portion i of said one partition member is formed from the material THERON mmry Exammer' of the other of said pair of panels. I 10 EARLE'J. 'DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A SEPARATOR FOR USE IN A BOTTOLE CARTON FOR SEPARATING BOTTLES DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID SEPARATOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF PANELS DISPOSED IN FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT AND ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF BOTTLE,S AND AT LEAST ONE PARTITION MEMBER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT TRANSVERSELY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF ONE OF SAID PANELS FOR EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT BOTTLES OF THE ROWS OF BOTTLES, THE OTHER OF SAID PANELS HAVING A NARROW SLIT THEREIN ALIGNED WITH SAID PARTITION MEMBER, SAID PARTITION MEMBER PROJECTING THROUGH THE SLIT OF SAID OTHER PANEL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OTHER PANELS. 